What a blessing, that occasionally in life you do get an opportunity to be plain bone lazy! On Bintan Island, with just the beach and a row of spiffy white reclining chairs to lure you, you can spend hours reading, watching the big whale-waves swoosh up and down, or even dozing to the soothing drone of the South China Sea.

Around you, more adventurous sorts are kayaking, snorkelling, sailing, or simply skinny dipping. Loads of Size Zero oriental girls in neon-hued bikinis are strutting around – and it’s alarming to discover that the cute little children prancing alongside are their own. Back home, a baby invariably means huge hips and a jelly belly!

Did I mention I am at Club Med, an incredibly affable, fun-in-the-sun sort of place, hugely popular with families for its kid-friendly features that keeps them occupied and out of everybody’s hair. At first, this idyllic family paradise doesn’t quite seem something a city-slick singleton would want. But it charms almost instantly, with its easy and informal air and lots of fun activities. The place is run by a bunch of multi-cultural GO (Gentle Organisers), as the management team at Club Med is called, and their unbridled enthusiasm and infectious zeal is given reigns by the Village Chief, as the General Manager is titled, and at Bintan he was the enormously ebullient Ryan Leach.

A chat with him revealed how the Club Med model is still vibrant, more than sixty years after it began. A bit of history would not be out of place at this point. ‘Club Metiterrannee’ began in 1950, with the intention to offer a new style of holiday making, encompassing an idyllic location, interaction with the other guests, and lots of sporting activities thrown in. In 1967, the Mini Club Med was launched – and this radically changed family holiday habits. This innovative service is dedicated to children, as it keeps them in a safe cocoon with other little guests at the resort, while their parents are free to pursue their own sporting or relaxing activities, knowing that the children are being completely cared for.

At Bintan, the Mini Club Med is like a fairytale fantasy popped-up to life, like in those pop-up books! Groups of children gather age-wise, and are put through the time of their lives with activities suited to their interests, in a section that is airy, pretty and inviting. The parents leave them there and carry on to swim, snorkel, or sun tan on the beach. There is a lovely spa that is also enticing, and nothing could spoil a deep-tissue massage session more than not knowing what to do with your kid! Thankfully, at Bintan, that doesn’t happen.

Ryan Leach lets on that there is more, still... Often the kids are groomed during the day for a skit or an entertainment show that takes place every night in the auditorium, where their adorable acts on stage are egged on by doting parents and other guests! It is really a warming sight, and since one stayed there for a while, the nightly shows become something of a big draw at the end of the day. Most often, it is the staff and management (lots of talented GOs) who get up on stage and croon or groove, and it isn’t amateur in any way.

For many family holiday makers, the Club Med experience is really ideal as it is all inclusive (sumptuous buffet meals thrice a day, with unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks, a wide range of sporting activities, evening entertainment acts, snacking and bar facilities all day are in the package). In addition, the kids get taken care of, so it isn’t surprising to see Bintan full of tourists all year round.

Bintan Island is located to the south of Singapore, technically in Indonesia, and is an hour’s boat ride away from Singapore. A bit of local gossip is that its tranquil bays have for long served as a refuge for pirates called the Orang Lauts. Rest assured, however, one doesn’t encounter any, as the Club Med resort is a safe haven and nobody is allowed in unless you have a booking to stay there. So no causal visitors or gawkers are admitted either into the property, or the private white sand beach that is a real visual treat with its unspoiled shoreline and azure waters.

This is a place cut off from civilization – there are no malls in the vicinity, no movie halls either. You come to connect with nature, and your family. You could also make new friends, as the informality is disarming. There is enough to do all day within the resort, from yoga classes to aerobics and gym sessions, to sports like beach volley ball, archery, swimming, sailing, bungee trampoline, flying trapeze, windsurfing, squash tennis, kayaking and more. But should you wish to step outside, then there are trips to Bintan Elephant Park, or you could take the Mangrove Discovery or Kampung Eco Tours.

However, what is simply not to be missed is a visit to the Ria Bintan Golf course, that has been awarded the ‘Best Golf Course in Asia’ – and justifiably so. Even for a non-golfer, it is spectacular emerald oasis of peace.

Finally, the food. After all that rest and recreation, with your lungs expunged of city smog, and your spirit renewed with the scenic splendour that surrounds you – the appetite seems to open up and no dietary discretions seem worth adhering to. So you can indulge. The buffets are large and multi-cuisine, and its India week while I’m there. So while guests from other countries seem to be spooning up lots of greasy ‘curry’ cuisine, one is tempted to try the other counters: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and so on, winding up invariably at the wicked dessert station, where the unique white chocolate bread is unbeatable. Carbs, calories, and no cardio! One better not become a beach bum at Bintan too often.